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Pillbugs

Anyone can play this game--but first you need to find a roly-poly, a tiny pillbug.

1. Check under boards, in leaf litter, or under rotting logs outdoors. Scoop up the pillbug in a cup.
2. Next, try putting it on your hand.
3. What does it do? Does it roll up?
4. See if you can get it to climb up your arm. Does it tickle? (Don't worry—it won't bite or sting.)
5. Be sure to put your roly-poly back when you finish being a climbing toy. Wow, what was THAT like?

Here's more fun stuff to do with a pillbug:   
 
Ruler races! Turn a ruler or yardstick into a pillbug track. Put your pillbug on one end of the ruler, and then time it to see how long it takes to walk the whole length. Try it with several pillbugs to figure out which one is the fastest. 
 
 
Pillbug maze. Make a pillbug maze. Use a shoebox as the base, and build a maze out of Legos, dominos, or other little blocks. Then see how long it takes your pillbug to find its way through the maze. How does it make its way around? Are there places in the maze where it likes to pause?
 
Read more:

For more pillbug activities, check out the book, Rolypolyology by Michael Elsohn Ross.

 

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